Check engine light on 04' X, what's my worst-case?
 

I'm very close to picking up a 2004 G35X with 100k on it. The car is about 3hrs away from me, my friend went and drove it for me today and everything seems to check out with the car with the exception of the check engine light. The current owner says it has been on since he purchased the car 10k miles or so ago and has not been a problem.

I'm wondering both if I should be worried that is has been on for that long due to the fact that it has been run with an improper air/fuel mixture, and what my worst-case scenario is if I take it to the dealer and need all four sensors replaced etc. Any thing else I should be worried about? Thanks in advance for your input, I'm eager to get one of these for my wife and hope this is the one.

umm...worst case scenario you need a new motor. Do you really want to buy a car with a check engine light??????

No, I don't, hence the post. How about some likely scenarios.

First...what is the check engine light code. Are you saying it refers to the o2 sensors. I can imagine you paying 4-5 hours labor at $90hr and then $400-$600 in parts. Along with that you will have your regular maintenance like:

TIRES
Belts
Spark Plugs
Coolant flush
Brake fluid
Brake pads and rotors
Tranny fluid
Clutch fluid
Diff fluid
Air filter
Cabin filter
AC controls / radio
Compression rod bushings
window motor

https://g35driver.com/forums/g-spot/...-g-owners.html

Unfortunately, I don't have the code and am not sure the diagnostics have been run. It would not be that big of a concern if tomorrow were not Saturday and the car were not three hours away.

The code could be nothing at all, tell the owner to go to auto zone or something and get it read and to tell you what the code is. And then go from there. A check engine light isn't always a sign of a car falling apart, could be something simple.